Bombs are falling over
civilian homes and people are fleeing towards the only safety they
can imagine. When they reach the borders, soldiers and tall fences
stop them and tell the fleeing to turn back. Soldiers shoot at
children and old people. Politicians talk of a refugee crisis and the
need to stop refugees from coming to their country. Children are
drowning, getting shot, or starve to death along railway lines and in
forests as they are running from bombs and soldiers, gas attacks and
unlawful imprisonment.
The year is 1940, 1964,
1985.
The year is 2015.
In safety, the people asked
to lend a hand scream about stolen jobs, freeloading bastards, and
children eating our food. They look at an 8 year old boy in shock and
call him a terrorist. They look at a young mother cradling a dead
infant and sneer at her desperate, silent tears.
We who have everything have
a chance to prove that we are humans, but all politicians can talk
about is "room to breathe" and "systems falling
apart". They refuse to see that it is humans we are talking
about. The people running, fleeing for their lives, want nothing more
than going home, but their homes are gone.
German bombs 1941. British
bombs 1944. American bombs 1945. Russian bombs and Syrian chemicals
2015-2016.
We look at history and say
"Never Again", then turn around and cheer the same politics
repeating. In Sweden, we say that we don't have the resources to help
fellow humans, then boast about the cleanest drinking water in the
world and our food exports. We say there is no room for humans, then
close down refugee housing and impromptu camps.
During World War 2, Sweden
let Nazi walk through our country to invade Norway, then accepted
Norwegian refugees. We grudgingly accepted Finnish refugees. During
the Cold War, Sweden said nothing, and established research into
"keeping the race clean".
In 2015, our Prime Minister
calls for open hearts and accepting homes, then passed a law that
would divide families, leave children without parents, and parents
desperately searching for their children. The politicians are closing
down housing for refugees, yet still claims to be a the forefront of
humanitarian aid.
We are all humans. It is
time to raise up against the de-humanization and show off our
infinate potential for empathy, understanding, and to do good. Prayer
is fine, but action is far superior and unless we want a repetition
of the 1930-40s, we need to act now to push down xenophobia, hatred,
and fear mongering.
Do not let Alan Kurdi have
died in vain.
DFTBA
